Nathan Ake (center, with the cup), captain of Netherlands U-17 team accepts the cup from Michel Platini, president of Uefa after winning the European Under-17 Football Championship final match between Germany and Netherlands in Ljubljana on May 16th, 2012. Photograph: Jure Makovec/AFP/GettyImages

Players and profit the driving forces behind rapidly developing world of youth academies

Anthony Pilkington: says he needs to rest his troublesome knee so he can come back firing  on all cylinders for Norwich next season.

Norwich midfielder says he needs to rest in order to sort out ongoing knee problem

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez and his coaching staff pose with the Europa League  trophy after victory over Benfica in Amsterdam. Photograph:  Michael Steele/Getty Images

Benitez says €100m will be spent this summer providing new players for his successor

Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic scores the winning goal past Benfica’s goalkeeper Artur during their Europa League final  at the Amsterdam ArenaA. Photograph: Michael Kooren/Reuters

Benfica beaten by 90th minute winner from Serbian defender after Torres opener cancelled out by Cardozo

Nemanja Matic of Benfica will face his old club this evening. Photograph:  Michael Steele/Getty Images

Midfielder can have a big impact on final against club that may pay a price for letting him go

Republic of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni at Monday’s press conference in Carrick on Shannon, Leitrim. Photograph: Inpho

Evolution likely to be a stop-start affair, with Norwich star heading off on his honeymoon

Norwich City’s Anthony Pilkington (left): may well be in Republic of Ireland squad for forthcoming internationals. Photograph: Reuters

Pilkington likely to be amongst those named but Andrews ruled out by ongoing Achilles problem

Ronan Finn celebrates scoring Shamrock Rovers’ fifth goal in the Setanta Sports Cup Final against Drogheda United at  Tallaght Stadium. Photograph: Lorraine O’Sullivan/Inpho

Dublin side claim second Setanta title in Tallaght as Drogheda United swamped

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